I read with interest that MCA president Ong Ka Ting and deputy president Chan Kong Choy will head the Negeri Sembilan and Penang MCA liason respectively.

According to Ka Ting, having the two top leaders take over would make the two state parties "more stable and stronger."

The Scenario

In the last MCA election which was concluded near two weeks ago, Negeri Sembilan deputy chief Yeow Chai Tiam pulled higher votes in the fight for a place at the cetral committte.

Interestingly, Yeow’s boss Hon Choon Kim, who is the Negeri Sembilan chief only manage to secure lower votes compared to him.

So, is it appropriate to say that Hon is famous at his hometown but not as well received as Yeoh at national level?

Never mind though, this is only the appetizer, not yet the main course anyway.

The departure of Hon to national committee

Yesterday, while the president’s elder brother Ong Ka Chuan was announced as the party’s new secretary general, Hon has been appointed as national organising secretary. So this means that the chairmanship of Negeri Sembilan committee is left vacant due to Hon’s elevation.

Spontaneously, it’s natural to assume that the marathon fighter Yeow will become the state chief, given that he pulled the 6th highest votes out of the 46 candidates contested and the supports that he has got so far.

According to a tip-off that I received from a reader, speculations were also rife among the grassroots members regarding his high chances of possible appointment as state chief until the announcement of the take over from the party chief.

The bottom line

Last year, Yeow was made to walk the thin line. However, after a year plus 4 months, he position remains stagnant.

So, I would like to ask, is the takeover of leadership is going to make the party "more stable and strong" or as a measure to curb the ever growing power of Yeow, who is also the Lukut state assemblyman?

Or is it "politically correct" to say both?

Maxis SMS alert at 5:36pm.

Ong Ka Chuan is MCA’s new Sec-Gen, Wong Kam Hoong is Deputy Sec-Gen, Hon Choon Kim named Nat Org Sec and Lau Yin Pin reappointed Treasurer-General

Parti adik-beradik? Seems so …

Happy retirement, Ting Chew Peh.

A few spots where you might consider for tonight’s Merdeka Eve celebration.

I shall blog LIVE from KLCC, if everything goes right.

Stay tune.

Information Minister Abdul Kadir Sheik Fadzir called on traders and motorists to close their stalls and stop their vehicles respectively for 10 minutes, as a mark of respect to honour the country 48th Independence Day. Quote:

"Traders should close their stalls five minutes before and after midnight and motorists to stop driving as a mark of respect." [...]

In addition to that, I would like to suggest that Malaysians must refrain from attending your loo session five minutes before and after midnight, to show your patriotism towards the country.

Brilliant idea ya, Pak Kadir?

“Let’s work together,” AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes said to MAS chairman Munir Majid.

Tony also reminded the MAS chairman not to take a cheap swipe against AirAsia for its losses as the national carrier was already running on red and restructuring plan was underway since four years ago.

Don’t blame external factor for depriving you of something else, if you might think that out of luck is the factor.

Afterall, luck is when preparation meets opportunity.

However, being the national carrier, the opportunity for MAS is always out there.

But how about four years of preparation? Please, bear in mind that AirAsia too was merely established four years ago.

[UPDATED VERSION] Maxis SMS alert at 11:00am

Oil prices have hit record highs of more than US$ 70 a barrel as Hurricane Katrina forced oil firms to shut down operations in the Gulf of Mexico.

Petrol price to follow suit soon.

Watch out.

* * * * * * * * * *

Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has hinted at a possible increment. Quote:

"The public should appreciate and understand that this is not the government’s fault."

"They should not put the blame on the government if there is a need to raise the price of petroleum products in the market." [...]

Fast and furious.